Absurdities and Realities of Special Education

Absurdities and Realities of Special Education: The University of Vermont Center for Digital Initiatives Collection is a complete set of all of the cartoons created by Michael Giangreco with the assistance of the artist Kevin Ruelle. This includes a total of 335 cartoons from four previously published books and searchable CD that went "out of print" in 2019 and a few newer cartoons. Michael Giangreco created the original ideas, text, and sketches for each cartoon and Kevin Ruelle redrew the sketches. The cartoons in the first three books all were originally in black and white. That was a conscious decision, both for aesthetic and practical reasons. The cartoons were designed to be easily copied on to overhead transparencies for display in classes, workshops, and other learning environments. A group called Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) requested permission to use one of the cartoons on the cover of their magazine and subsequently colorized it. Prompted by Giangreco’s colleagues associated with ALLFIE, Giangreco and Ruelle began to colorize the rest of the images. In this complete digital collection, we have included a total of 335 different digital images; including the 315 different cartoons from the four earlier books, 12 cartoons that were on the CD only, and eight that were not included in any of the previously published books or CD. Cartoons from the early books have found their way on to the pages of many newsletters disseminated by schools, parent groups, disability advocacy organizations, and professional associations. They have appeared in books, manuals, and journals; a few were even published in a law journal. The cartoons have been used extensively as projected slides or within learning activities in college classes, at conferences, in workshops, and at other meetings. Parents have framed cartoons that closely reflected their own experiences and hung them in their homes or offices. Other parents have used them in meetings with professionals to help get their points across. They have been given as gifts to people who "get it" and handed out as door prizes. The Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights used them as part of "Disability Awareness Day" at the Vermont legislature. The cartoons can be used in innumerable creative ways.

Showing 141 - 150 of 229 Records

Achieve All the Standards

Image

Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
Date Created: 2000
Description: The cartoon shows two school officials, a man on the left who is looking stressed and a woman to his right. The man is holding a huge stack of papers that rise from his waist to above his head. He is saying to the woman, "In order for students to achieve all the standards we'll have to extend the school day to 10 hours, the school year to 240 days, and the students will have to go to high school until age 24." The tag line reads, "School Officials Ponder Their Options: Adjust the standards, adjust the school program or adjust both."
Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks

Reasonable Affective Disorder

Image

Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
Date Created: 2000
Description: The cartoon shows a room of people sitting on chairs facing the front of the room where a panel of people sit behind a long table. A sign on the right of the frame says, "Welcome support Group Q & A." A man in the front row puts up his hand and asks, "At a meeting last February I encountered a person who was uncharacteristically sad, moody and unreasonable. How can I handle such a situations in the future?" A person on the panel replies, "Sounds like you encountered a variation on a common problem. For winter meetings, we suggest you bring one of these full spectrum lights." (which he has turned sending a light toward the audience). The tag line reads, "Consumers encounter staff with reasonable affective disorder."
Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks

Secret Wish

Image

Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
Date Created: 2000
Description: The cartoon shows a woman sitting on Santa's lap with a Christmas tree gifts in the background. There are children waiting in line to sit on Santa's lap too. Santa says, "You're a bit old for this, but go ahead and tell me your secret wish." The woman responds, "I'd like my child to have a teacher who is welcoming, inspires a love of learning, and sees the value in every child." The tag line reads, "Mary Beth's secret wish is shared by parents the world over." The tag line on the left reads, "Inspired by Mary Beth Doyle."
Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks

Grain of Salt

Image

Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
Date Created: 2000
Description: The cartoon shows a man sitting at a dinner table set with plate and utensils. On the plate are papers the top sheet is labeled, "Model Program Report: The greatest thing since sliced bread." The man is seasoning the report with a salt shaker. The tag line reads, "Whatever hype is served up, take it with at least a grain of salt."
Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks

Parapro Door

Image

Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
Date Created: 2007
Description: This cartoon shows a person who has opened a door with a sign over the top that says "Paraprofessional Issues." With door opened it reveals a cluttered mess of objects (e.g., ladder, bike, sports equipment) and boxes with labels including: self-determination, family issues, peer supports, teacher engagement, access to general education, teaching formats, special educator caseload. The person who has opened the door says, "Wow! I never realized all this was in here." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Going in through the paraprofessional door."
Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, CD Only

Parapro Supports

Image

Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
Date Created: 2010-2013
Description: This cartoon shows a teacher sitting across from an administrator at his desk. The teacher says, "I have a question about some classroom supports I need." The administrator replies, "To save us time, effort, and expense, I have predetermined a range of options to address all teacher support questions: 1. A full-time parapro, 2. A part-time parapro, 3. No parapro. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Parapro Supports: An answer, not the answer."
Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Post CD

General Ed

Image

Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
Date Created: 1999
Description: The cartoon shows a General named Ed standing in front of an American flag saluting. The tag line reads, "Few people know that before he was 'General Ed' he was 'Special Ed.'"
Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Flying by the Seat of Your Pants

Poultry Puns

Image

Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
Date Created: 1999
Description: The cartoon shows a teacher in front of a class full of students. The students all have their hands up and they are all saying, "I'm done!" the teacher responds with, "Turkeys are 'done' people are 'finished!' Based on you work, I should give you all 'Goose eggs!' But since I'm 'Mr. Eggstra-nice-guy,' I'll let you do it over!" the tag line reads, "What happens when teachers become obsessed with poultry puns."
Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Flying by the Seat of Your Pants

Dick, Jane and Spot

Image

Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
Date Created: 1999
Description: The cartoon has two people in the panel. The man on the right side of the panel is saying, "We need to avoid our mistakes of the past and teach kids the 'Classics.'" The person in the right side of the panel says, "Right! I still fondly remember 'See Dick. See Jane. See Spot. Run Spot Run!'" The tag line reads "Literature in literacy an entire generation grew up thinking Dick, Jane, and Spot were significant literary characters."
Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Flying by the Seat of Your Pants

Appropriate Label

Image

Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
Date Created: 1999
Description: The cartoon shows a woman talking to a man in a wheelchair. The woman says "So, how do you prefer to be called? Handicapped? Disabled? Or Physically-Challenged?" the man responds "Joe would be fine." the tag line reads "The most appropriate label is usually the one someone's parents have given them."
Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Flying by the Seat of Your Pants

Absurdities and Realities of Special Education

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Showing 141 - 150 of 229 Records

Absurdities and Realities of Special Education

List

Gallery

Information

Showing 141 - 150 of 229 Records

Creator

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Type of Resource

Genre

Parent Collections

Date Created [Year]